Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense contains, present participle containing, past tense, past participle contained
1. verb [no cont]
If something such as a box, bag, room, or place contains things, those things are inside it.
The bag contained a Christmas card. [VERB noun]
Factory shops contain a wide range of cheap furnishings. [VERB noun]
The 77,000-acre estate contains five of the highest peaks in Scotland. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: hold, incorporate, accommodate, enclose More Synonyms of contain
2. verb [no cont]
If a substance contains something, that thing is a part of it.
Greek yogurt contains much less fat than double cream. [VERB noun]
Most of that old paint contains lead, which is hazardous if ingested. [VERB noun]
3. verb [no cont]
If writing, speech, or film contains particular information, ideas, or images, it includes them.
This sheet contained a list of problems a patient might like to raise with the doctor. [VERB noun]
The two discs also contain two of Britten's lesser-known song-cycles. [VERB noun]
4. verb [no cont]
If a group or organization contains a certain number of people, those are the people that are in it.
The committee contains 11 Democrats and nine Republicans. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: include, consist of, embrace, comprise More Synonyms of contain
5. verb
If you contain something, you control it and prevent it from spreading or increasing.
More than a hundred firefighters are still trying to contain the fire at the plant. [VERB noun]
The city authorities said the curfew had contained the violence. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: restrain, control, hold in, curb More Synonyms of contain
6. verb
If you cannot contain a feeling such as excitement or anger, or if you cannot containyourself, you cannot prevent yourself from showing your feelings.
He was bursting with curiosity and just couldn't contain himself. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
Evans could barely contain his delight: 'I'm so proud of her,' he said. [VERB noun]
7. See also self-contained
contain in British English
(kənˈteɪn)
verb(transitive)
1.
to hold or be capable of holding or including within a fixed limit or area
this contains five pints
2.
to keep (one's feelings, behaviour, etc) within bounds; restrain
3.
to consist of; comprise
the book contains three different sections
4. military
to prevent (enemy forces) from operating beyond a certain level or area
5. mathematics
a.
to be a multiple of, leaving no remainder
6 contains 2 and 3
b.
to have as a subset
Derived forms
containable (conˈtainable)
adjective
Word origin
C13: from Old French contenir, from Latin continēre, from com- together + tenēre to hold
contain in American English
(kənˈteɪn)
verb transitive
1.
to have in it; hold, enclose, or include
the can contains tea, the list contains 50 items
2.
to have the capacity for holding
3.
to be equivalent to
a gallon contains four quarts
4.
to hold back or within fixed limits
; specif.,
a.
to restrain (one's feeling, oneself, etc.)
b.
to check the power, expansion, or influence of
5.
to be divisible by, esp. without a remainder
10 contains 5 and 2
verb intransitive
6. Archaic
to restrain one's feelings
SYNONYMY NOTE: contain, in strict usage, signifies an enclosing within or including as a component, part,or fraction, and , hold1, the capacity for containing [the bottle contains two ounces of liquid, but it holds a pint]; to accommodate is to hold comfortably without crowding [an elevator built to accommodate twelve people]
Derived forms
containable (conˈtainable)
adjective
Word origin
ME conteinen < OFr contenir < L continere, to hold < com-, together + tenere, to hold: see thin
Examples of 'contain' in a sentence
contain
The message also contained a unique link to open the hold storing the food.
The Sun (2016)
The question is asking how many different numbers contain at least one three.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It also contains strawberry and banana puree.
The Sun (2016)
It also contains contributions from the pupils themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The book contains a 28-day workout plan that women can do at home or in the gym.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
After he had departed, two men approached the luggage on the pavement, removing the heavy white plastic bag it contained.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It also contains barley to reduce redness and soothe discomfort.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Many soups contain more salt than a packet of crisps.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Yet they went around carrying something that could barely contain my lunch.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Each concert also contains a contemporary work.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The judges can barely contain their hysteria.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
One bar contains two tablespoons of sugar.
The Sun (2013)
But the book also contains some longer autobiographical essays.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Space industry insiders can barely contain their excitement.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
These are telling phrases in an accomplished book which contains enough hope to disperse most of its gloom.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
The bill also contains measures to force suppliers to put households on the cheapest tariffs for their needs.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The local left had declared a general strike and the meeting went ahead in an atmosphere of barely contained violence.
Paul Preston DOVES OF WAR: Four Women of Spain (2002)
Many of these contain trace elements.
Stanway, Dr Andrew Miracle Micronutrients (1987)
The film contains two common errors.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The book contains some intriguing details.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
Only one sentence contains two dependent clauses; none contains three.
Marius, Richard A Short Guide to Writing About History (1995)
We were sent six, with two bags containing single items.
The Sun (2015)
It is contained in one phrase: make use of suffering.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They also pulled out of a yellow bucket three 1ft polythene bags containing more explosives.
The Sun (2013)
Many such settlements contain general confidentiality agreements, often to protect patient information.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The bag contained 70 cash and her passport.
The Sun (2016)
Many foods today contain so many ingredients and products that the brain's appetite centre becomes confused.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The model thus contains two countries, two products and three factors of production.
Forstner, Helmut, Ballance, Robert Competing in a Global Economy (1990)
I seemed to remember it contained only one decent laugh.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
contain
British English: contain /kənˈteɪn/ VERB
If something such as a box or a room contains things, those things are in it.
The bag contained a present.
American English: contain
Arabic: يَحْتَوَى عَلَى
Brazilian Portuguese: conter
Chinese: 包含
Croatian: sadržati
Czech: obsahovat
Danish: indeholde
Dutch: bevatten
European Spanish: contener
Finnish: sisältää
French: contenir
German: enthalten
Greek: περιέχω
Italian: contenere
Japanese: 含む
Korean: 담고 있다
Norwegian: inneholde
Polish: zawrzeć
European Portuguese: conter
Romanian: a conține
Russian: содержать
Latin American Spanish: contener
Swedish: innehålla
Thai: มี
Turkish: içermek
Ukrainian: містити
Vietnamese: chứa đựng
Chinese translation of 'contain'
contain
(kənˈteɪn)
vt
(= hold)
[objects]装(裝)有 (zhuāngyǒu)
[component, ingredient]含有 (hányǒu)
[letter, report, film]包含 (bāohán)
(= control)
[growth, spread]控制 (kòngzhì)
[fire, violence]阻止 ... 的蔓延 (zǔzhǐ ... de mànyán)
[curiosity, delight]抑制 (yìzhì)
I could hardly contain myself我几(幾)乎不能控制自己 (wǒ jīhū bùnéng kòngzhì zìjǐ)
1 (verb)
Definition
to hold or be capable of holding
Factory shops contain a wide range of cheap furnishings.
Synonyms
hold
The small bottles don't seem to hold much.
incorporate
The new cars will incorporate a number of major improvements.
accommodate
The school was not big enough to accommodate all the children.
enclose
have capacity for
2 (verb)
Definition
to consist of
The committee contains 11 Democrats and nine Republicans.
Synonyms
include
The trip was extended to include a few other events.
consist of
embrace
a theory that would embrace the whole field of human endeavour
comprise
The exhibition comprises 50 oils and watercolours.
embody
The proposal has been embodied in a draft resolution.
comprehend
3 (verb)
Definition
to prevent from spreading or going beyond fixed limits
The city authorities said the curfew had contained the violence.
Synonyms
restrain
He grabbed my arm, partly to restrain me.
control
Try to control that temper of yours.
hold in
curb
He must learn to curb that temper of his.
suppress
She surpressed a smile at the thought.
hold back
stifle
Critics have accused them of trying to stifle debate.
repress
People who repress their emotions risk having nightmares.
keep a tight rein on
Additional synonyms
in the sense of accommodate
Definition
to have room for
The school was not big enough to accommodate all the children.
Synonyms
hold,
take,
seat,
contain,
have a capacity for
in the sense of comprise
Definition
to be made up of
The exhibition comprises 50 oils and watercolours.